Well I finally got the chance to test the build today
Not ideal conditions being an inlander and the winds were 0 "gusting" to 4mph but it was a lovely day and after watching the solar eclipse this morning really needed to try and get something in the air.
I could have flown the modded Shadow but decided to test the build against the original Eolo so...
The original would not fly as the winds were too low....well it would take off and then I ran out of field running backwards
I did manage to get it high enough for an axle but really it was a non-starter so thought it a perfect time to test the build.
At first I thought it was the same syndrome, however it hovered in a stall after a promising rise so obviously the bridle setting was tweaked moving the prussic up 1cm, better and it actually flew "nicely" with absolutely no pull on the lines at all and any tricks attempted meant a manic run backward for recovery. When the wind did gust up to 4mph the turning radius was terrible for a small kite so I moved the inhaul to shorten it, this buggered the turtle somewhat as the bridle was not wide enough but made axles beautiful
Sacrificing the turtle the axle to fade just did not happen, it would attempt but not complete so I increased the tail weight from 3 to 6 grams and Bam! It flipped lovely and held the fade, even rising until I rolled out.
That was as far as I could go testing but my impression of my first build....It is "softer" than the original meaning it is the same speed in turns for less wind but with no pull, the parachute ripstop "gives" more and despite identical framing there is a distinct difference in feel.
It will genuinely fly better in lower wind than the original but at the sacrifice of "crispness" of feel and definately pull (for a small kite) and inputs have to be surprising large and non-delicate to get any positive response.
Maybe some of this can be tuned out, in fact I`ve just finished modding the bridle, but my thoughts are the material has too much give for immediate response but it will always be something that I take out in zero to a couple of mph winds to spank around! knowing that little damage can occur.
I`ll try it in higher winds when we get some, the "give" in the material might help it feel smoother in gusts and absorb impact from the wind stretching the limit of the 4mm pultruded higher than the standard.
It MIGHT be better at both the top and bottom of the wind range than the original.......but...for a freestyle trick kite it`s always going to feel "softer" hmmmmmm.
If I had bought it for £50... I would have been more than happy with the lil kite.
Being as it`s the first kite of any type I`ve ever built....I`m bloody chuffed with it!!!!!